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“Does the name Wade mean anything to you,princess?” he growled. My retort caught in my throat, my eyes weakening as we stared at one another. He took my hesitation as an invitation.

“Wade, your newbartender, was found just after both Tusker and the human’s bodies were located, not far.”

“You can’t expect me to keep tabs on all of those underneath my employment,” I said quickly, though my fingers twitched in frustration. Wade . . . fucking Wade.

“As you know—since you seem to know so much about me—” I continued, “My operation has made the Known far more money than any other club in the state, and on this side of the coast. You cannot, for one moment, believe that I have enough time to keep track of them all. That list is in the thousands. And in any case,” I took a deep breath, letting the air slide between my lips, “I could probably tell you about half a dozen vampires that live in the area between both locations of the bodies.”

There was a slow clap that started at the end of the room where the big vampire sat. He moved his legs from the table and leaned forward onto it. “What an incredible monologue, Mercy. But spare us the story. He was found dried up like a tomato in the sun, drenched in the blood bag’s blood.”

I winced.Fuck.

“You can’t even keep your newborns from killing an innocent girl at your club. And there’s reasonable suspicion to believe that he was involved in Nathaniel’s murder, as well. What do you have to say to that?”

I straightened my back, refusing to show an inch more weakness in front of this room of powerful vampires. I stared at the burly man and stood from my seat, hands against the top of the table clutching for any sort of grip, so I didn’t run over there and sink my teeth into his neck. I’d hate another reason to be crucified today.

“Ambrosiahas had a clean record for ten years,” I snapped, “I am not to be punished for the unfortunate misgivings of one of my bartenders.”

“A misgiving that resulted in the death of a powerful vampire! One that, if you recall, led toyou being appointed in his place!”

“I am not at fault!” I screamed. We glared daggers into one another, the discomfort from the other occupants radiating throughout the room. Someone cleared their throat.

“Mercy,” they approached cautiously. My teeth were bared and my face was pale white. I looked absolutely lethal.

“No one is saying that you killed him, I know you and Nate were close.”

I nodded, too scared to say anything else. I felt like I was drowning, going down on a sinking ship. I could hear the burly vampire hiss in frustration.

“I think it’s time to call this meeting,” someone said hesitantly. The room grumbled in agreement, but no one moved. “Mercy, will you please speak with me privately?”

I was absolutely fucked.

15

MERCY

The thin setvampire led me through hallways, passing by various others interlocked together, splayed about as if they were dying for a voyeur. Vampires had absolutely no shame. I averted my gaze, my stilettos clicking distinctly against the tiled floor, leaving them behind. I could feel the coolness of the stale air against my pale skin. I was running every forthcoming scenario in my head, my brows shooting up as I forced my lips into a tight grimace.

“Thank you for your intervention,” I said earnestly, earning myself a casual grin as the vampire ahead of me tilted his head my way. He nodded, sympathetically. The motion almost made me sick, it was incredibly patronizing.

I mustn’t kill him. Not yet.

“Baby,” he cooed. I ran my tongue along the contours of my fangs to cool myself from the rage. “I knew the minute the Authority appointed you in charge of Vegas and the surrounding region that they were going to have something smart to say about it. How many women did you see in that conference room?”

I let loose a light laugh, my lips pursing in contempt. “Hmm, only one, I suppose.”

“Have you not learned rhetoric?”

“In the conversations between me and men, I will always have the last word,” I snarled. The tone made his eyebrows arch in a challenge. The vampire opened a door to our right, waving me in so he could follow behind me.

I’d only been in this building a handful of times, and mostly with Nathaniel. He was my buffer, and I’d always been the puppet. I was surprised most of these men even remembered who I was, they didn’t pay me much attention when I was in Tusker’s shadow. Now that I wasKeeper, I was the center of the show. If not for that shit show of a meeting, I might have glowed in that revelation.

This room was never one I'd been welcomed in, with Nate or not, despite my frequent visits to this place. In fact, I didn’t remember a timeanyonewas welcomed in here. I glanced towards the walls lined with stripes. Before me sat a large grandiose desk that rivaled my own, a throne of metals and bones behind it. I was tiny in comparison.

“Mr. Valore,” I recognized him now as he sat before me. His dark skin was complemented by sharp cheekbones and bright blue eyes. He looked like an entity from another planet. Hundreds of years of being undead would do that to you.

The stubble on his cheeks faded into a perfect, permanent five o’clock shadow, and his hair was clipped in a way that showed off the snake tattoo that circled his head. The top was floppy and as black as my own, curling just so, making him shake his head to get it out of his eyes. He was handsome—someone I’d probably try to fuck, to be honest. I found myself crossing my legs, a pitiful attempt at hiding my sudden arousal from him. Where Cecelia was soft, he was all hard. God damnit, I had days full of sex, how could my body want more?

He sat across from me, straightening the lapels on his suit and giving me a tight smirk and winking at me.